Hand cabbage setter



July 11,1939. F. T. TWITCHELL HAND CABBAGE SETTER Filed Nov. 10, 1937 I l l l Illllllfl Patented July '11, 1939 UNITED PATENT OFFICE HAND CABBAGE SETTER Frank T. Twitchell, Tinnie, N. Mex.

Application November 10, 1937, Serial No. 173,799

5 Claims.

This invention relates to new and useful improvements in transplanters and it has particular reference to a device for setting and transplanting cabbages or other vegetables.

The object of this invention is to provide a fast hand operated cabbage setter consisting of two side-walled shovel-like sections pivoted together at their upper end to form a container, each provided with a handle for manipulating the same, and a truncated cone-shaped fabric chute open at each end, suspended at its upper end by means of springs to the handles and having its lower open end extending within the container.

Another object of this invention relates to the provision at the bottom; of each casing section of a fiat blade or knife, for facilitating the use of the device when operating in the soil.

Further objects of this invention relate to the construction of the handles and the manner of bracing, and attaching the same to the casing sections.

With the above and other objects in view, which will appear as the description progresses, the invention resides in the novel construction and combination of parts hereinafter fully described and claimed.

In the accompanying drawing, there has been illustrated a simple and preferred embodiment of the invention and in which:

Figure 1 is a side elevational view of the trans planter or setter.

Figure 2 is a vertical sectional View taken on line 2-2, Figure 1.

Figure 3 is an end elevational View of one of the casing sections showing the manner of attaching the handle thereto.

Figure 4 is an end elevational view similar to that of Figure 3 showing a modified construction wherein the handle is adjustably attached to the casing section.

Referring to the drawing, the container ll] of the transplanter comprises two casing sections H which are formed of a suitable sheet metal having a high degree of rigidity combined with lightness, each casing section being of shovel-like forrrr comprising a back l2 and side walls l3 and M. The back I2 is wider at the top edge [5 than at the bottom edge l6, and the side walls l3 and M are of triangular shape, the upper edges ll of which are in line and in substantially the same horizontal plane with the top edge l5 of the back l2. The other edges l8 of the triangular side walls are inclined towards the back 12 and intersect the same a distance above the bottom edge l6 thereof, thus defining a blade or knife portion l9 which projects in effect beyond each casing section. Each blade portion I9 is made of a tapering thickness whereby the bottom edge l6 forms a knife edge. This blade construction allows the ready insertion of the casing sections into the soil as will be hereinafter described.

The casing sections II are arranged with their backs I 2 in opposed relation so that the triangular side walls i3 and it overlap each other to the extent as shown in Figure 1, and are pivotally connected together by means of the rivet or bolt 20.

To operate the casing sections ll there is provided a pair of handles 23 and24 formed of wood or any other suitablernaterial. Each handle is formed to provide a straight portion 25, an inclined attaching portion 26, and a grip 21. The attaching portions 26 of each handle are arranged on the outside of the backs [2 in the longitudinal medial axis thereof and are permanently secured thereto as by the rivets 28. It will be observed that the attaching portion 26 at its lower end terminates at the upper end of the blades I9, see Figure 1. On each side of the attaching portion 26, there is provided a tri angular shaped brace 30 formed of plywood or sheet metal, and permanently attached thereto by the rivets or screws 3!. The lower edges of the braces 30 are inclined towards the back I2 and are covered by a channel-shaped sheet metal ground abutment 32, slipped over the edge portions of said braces and rigidly secured thereto in any desired manner, said ground abutments 32 serving to limit the inward movement of the blades l9 into the soil in the manner readily apparent.

Suspended by means of the coil springs 35 from the handles 24 is a cone or funnel-shaped canvas or other fabric chute 36, open at each end and with its largest opening uppermost. The ends of the canvas chute 36 are preferably reinforced by metal rings 31 and 38, the lower ring 38 being substantially heavy so as to maintain the canvas chute properly suspended and taut at all times. The mounting of the chute 36 is such that the lower portion thereof extends part way into the container l0 and is centrally arranged with respect thereto, as clearly shown in Figure 2.

In some cases it may be desirable to provide an adjustable connection for the arms 24 carrying the ground abutment 32 on the casing sections l l in order to vary the length of the blades l9. Such a construction is shown by way of example in Figure 4. In this case, the attaching portion 26a of the handle 24a is provided with a plurality of slots 4|] which receive the screws or bolts 4| which act to clamp the handle to its associated casing section. In the arrangement and relative position of parts shown in Figure 4, the handle 24a. is shown in its uppermost position. Thus any desired degree of adjustment may be effected in the relative position of the ground abutment 32a, to vary the length of the blade l9. In order to insure the proper adjustment of each of the ground abutments 32a, suitable markings or graduations such as 43 may be provided on the backs of the blades l9.

In order to prevent the gathering of moisture and dirt inside of the container, the inside surfaces must be formed very smooth.

In Figure l, the transplanter or setter is shown in open position with the blades l9 inserted into the ground, the ground line being indicated by the dotted line 45.

To use the transplanter or setter requires the services of two men, one to throw the plants into the chute and the other to manipulate the setter. First container 10 should be closed, then a plant is thrown into chute and the blades forced into ground, the container being then opened by a separating movement of the casing sections under the control of the handles, followed by an upward movement of the setter. The plant falling out of the container is set in position and in the upward movement of the container is properly covered by the soil dropping oif of the blades l 9. It is obvious that the setter must be used on dry loose soil.

The above described and disclosed transplanter or setter is exceedingly simple in construction and efiicient in operation and can be used in the transplanting of all plants that require transplanting, the use thereof resulting in a saving of time, labor and expense.

It is to be understood that while a preferred embodiment of the invention has been illustrated and described, minor details of construction within the scope of the appended claims may be resorted to when desired.

Having thus described my invention I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent:

1. A transplanter or setter comprising a container consisting of opposed casing sections each having a back and side walls, with a portion of the side walls of one overlapping a like portion of the other, means pivotally connecting said side walls together, a handle adjustably connected to the back of each casing section, a depending blade at the bottom of each casing section formed as an integral extension of the back thereof, and a chute resiliently carried by said handles and arranged in superposed axial relation to said container.

2. A transplanter or setter comprising a container consisting of opposed casing sections each having a back and side walls with the upper portion of the side walls of one overlapping a like portion of the other, means pivotally connecting said side Walls together, to form an open upper end of said container, a handle adjustably attached to the back of each casing section and extending above the same, braces extending laterally of said backs and attached to said handles, a depending blade provided at the bottom of each casing section, and a chute carried by said handles and arranged in superposed axial relation to said container, the lower end of said chute extending into said open upper end thereof.

3. A transplanter or setter comprising a container consisting of opposed casing sections each having a back and triangular shaped side walls overlapping each other at their upper end portions and pivotally connected together to form an open upper end of said container, a handle adjustably attached to the back of each casing section and extending above the same, braces extending laterally of said casing section backs and attached to said handles, a ground abutment member fixed to the lower ends of said braces, a depending blade provided at the bottom of each casing section, and a flexible chute carried by said handles and arranged in superposed axial relation to said container, the lower end of said chute extending into the open upper end of said container.

4. The transplanter or setter as specified in claim 3, the construction of said casing sections being such as to reduce the opening of the container at its lower end by a scissor-dike action thereof, said blades being integral with said casing section backs forming an extension thereof and being tapered to form a knife-edge at the lowermost terminal edge thereof.

5. The transplanter or setter as specified in claim 3, wherein the braces for each casing section comprises a pair of rigid triangular shaped fiat body elements arranged one on each side of the portion of the handle attached to its respective casing section, and said ground abutment member being formed of a channel-shaped metallic member arranged over the lower edge portions of said braces, spanning the same and permanently attached thereto.

FRANK T. TWITCHELL. 

